“They could be sleeping,” Lillian said, putting jam on her scone. “Or maybe they’re having sex.”
Payne and Mindy had been holed up in her room for much of the past day and a half. They’d appeared briefly for dinner, Mindy looking red-eyed and defeated, Payne seeming more confused than angry. But since then, no one had seen them. There had been plenty of shouting and crying, but little else.
“I hope it’s sex,” Lillian added with a smile. “That’s so much more interesting than fighting.”
Before Robyn could figure out what to say to that, Austin walked in, looking tall and tanned and happy. She rushed to him.
“You’re back! How was the trip? Did you like UC San Diego? Is it a contender?”
She told herself to stop talking so much. Austin being interested in going to college was its own reward. Pushing wouldn’t help. Her youngest made up his own mind, in his own time.
“Mom!” He pulled her tightly against him, then swung her around. “I missed you.”
She laughed. “And you missed all the drama with Mindy. Payne showed up two days ago, and no one knows what’s happening. Are you hungry? Want some tea?”
He glanced at the table. “Any coffee?”
“There should be some.”
She got Austin coffee, along with a couple of bananas. When she returned to the breakfast room, he was seated next to Lillian and eating a scone.
“Did you drive back this morning?” she asked.
“I couldn’t sleep, so I checked out of the motel a little before six. Because it’s Saturday, traffic was light, and I made good time.”
He reached for a banana. “I toured the campus. I liked it a lot. I want to apply there, Mom.”
Robyn told herself to act calm. Shrieking would only make him question his decision. But on the inside, she was jumping and dancing. College! At last. Austin could take time and figure out what he wanted to do with his life. He would meet new people, see there was a world beyond working for his Dad.
But instead of saying all that, she nodded and murmured, “It’s a great school. Plus, San Diego is a fantastic city. Do you know what you want to study?”
He finished his banana, then wiped his hands on a napkin. His gaze met hers.
“I want to apply to the navy ROTC.”
He kept talking, but she didn’t hear anything else. There was a roaring sound, and she thought maybe her heart had stopped beating. Except she was still sitting upright, and if her heart had stopped, wouldn’t she collapse?
Fury, fear and a sense of betrayal battled for dominance. How could he? She’d trusted him. She’d slept with him! And all the time he’d been going behind her back to convince her son to—
“Mom!” Austin said sharply. “You’re not listening.”
She ignored the pounding in her ears and the sense that she couldn’t catch her breath so she could focus on her son. “I’m here.”
Austin’s mouth twisted. “I know what you’re thinking. Mason has nothing to do with this. This isn’t a new idea. I talked to the ROTC people last year. One of the times I went to visit Harlow, I went by the office and got information. It’s been on my mind for a while. I just wasn’t ready, you know. After high school? It seemed too soon. I wanted to be sure. It’s a big commitment.”
He looked at her. She could see the man he would become and the little boy he had been. Images flashed in her mind. Of him learning to ride a bike. Of him surfing when there was a riptide and how she’d struggled to drag him on shore. Of them laughing together, and the Saturday afternoon his first girlfriend had dumped him and broken his heart.
“Don’t cry,” he whispered.
“I’m not,” she said, even as she wiped her face and found tears.
Lillian squeezed his hand. “I’m so proud of you, Austin. You’re going to be a wonderful naval officer.”
He kissed her cheek, then got out of his chair and came around to Robyn’s. He crouched next to her and hugged her tight. “Mom, you gotta let me go. It’s time, and this is what I want to do.”
What if you get killed? Only she didn’t ask that because they both knew it was a possibility. On any given day, something awful could happen.
She forced herself to nod. “If it’s what you want, then it’s what you should do.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. Congratulations. That’s a big decision.”
He grinned and returned to his seat. “I have it all worked out. I need a year to establish residency so I can pay in-state tuition. I’ll get a job working for a charter company or at a marina. I want to sign up for an SAT study course and take the test again. I could do better on my scores.”
“You have a plan,” she said, impressed by how much he’d thought through.
“I’ll apply this fall, start next fall. I’ll be a year older than most of other students, but that’s okay.” He flashed a grin. “The girls will think I’m hot.”
“They will. Be careful with that.”
“Mom, come on. It’s me.” He picked up another scone. “This changes things for you, back in Florida. Maybe you don’t want to buy a house. You could get a condo, or rent somewhere and figure out your next act.”
“You should both live here,” Lillian said firmly. “I’d like the company. Austin, you can find work here just as easily as anywhere else. Robyn, you know how I feel about you staying.” Lillian turned to Austin. “I’ve practically been begging her not to go on a daily basis.”
“You’ve asked twice,” Robyn said with a smile.
“Now you can think about it seriously.”
“Let’s take things one at a time,” she said easily. “Austin, I’m really proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mom.” He turned to his great-great-aunt. “And thank you for letting me stay here. I’d like that a lot.”
“Excellent,” Lillian said with a sigh. “I’m very happy. Now to ask the awkward question, my dear boy. Have you spoken with your father?”
Austin shifted uncomfortably. Robyn held in a groan. Cord wasn’t going to take the news very well. He’d never wanted his kids to consider military service. He would rather they worked with him.
“I was gonna call,” Austin said, a definite whine to his voice. “It’s hard with the time difference.”
“He’s not expecting you back anytime soon,” Robyn offered. “You quit your job.”